Electric burglar-alarm system.



PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

C. COLEMAN. ELECTRIC BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 17, 1896.

' no MODEL.

No. 774,831. Patented November '15, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLYDE COLEMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,OF TWO-THIRDS TO THE BANKERSv ELECTRIC PROTECTIVE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC BURGLAR-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,831, dated November15, 1904.

Application filed December 17, 1896. Serial No. 615,956. (No model.)

To whom it y concern: provide at the protected district an electric- Beit known that I, CLYDECOL MAN, a citially-operated circuit-breaker,which normally zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, remains atrest, but is operated at predeterin the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, mined intervals to successively open the main 5 have inventeda certain new and useful Imcircuit or a parallel path thereof,preferably provement in Electric Burglar Alarm Sys the latter, to causethe marked change in the tems, of Whichthe following is afull,clear,concurrent flowing. To prevent. the responsive cise, and exact description,reference being device from responding to the changes thus had to theaccompanying drawings, forming produced, I preferablyprovide a secondcir- I a part of this specification. cuit, usually at the alarm-station,which con- My invention relates to an electricburglan tains a similarelectrically-operated circuitalarm system. breaker, and the responsivedevice is subject- My object is to provide asystem which will ed to thejoint action of the currents in the effectually prevent unwarrantedtampering two circuits. Means are provided for oper- I 5 with thecircuit without sounding the alarm. ating the two circuit-breakers inunison, and

Burglar-alarm systems have heretofore been the responsive device thusremains irrespondevised having a resistance included in the sive underthelike changes in the two circuits. circuit at the protected district,which effects The circuit-changers are preferably operated the soundingof the alarm on being cut from through the agency of a clock mechanismor 5 20 the circuit. It has been possible, however, otherautomatically-operating mechanism for with such systems to cut out theresistance predetermining the times when the circuitand interpolate asimilar resistance exterior breakers will be operated to open thecircuits. to the protected district, thus permitting the I prefer toemploy a circuit-breaker which entering of the protected vicinitywithout when operated will open and close the circuit 25 sounding thealarm at the alarm-station. To a number of times in uneven successionand prevent this successful tampering with the employ a circuit-breakerwhich depends for circuit, systems have been devised in which itsoperation upon a plurality of independent the electrical condition ofthe protective circircuit-breakers which coact in producing a cuit isvaried at intervals either at localized joint circuit-breakingsuccession. Each ele- 0 points or over the whole circuit, the responmentor individual circuit-breaker is consive or alarm-sounding device at thealarmstructed to break the circuit at uneven interstation being arrangedto remain irresponsive vals, and the several elements areassociated tothe normal variations, while responding to and operated so that theirorder of operation any abnormal variations to sound an alarm. iscontinuously changing, thus producing a 35 The present invention belongsto this class of large number of permutations in the intervals burglaralarm systems, and in accordance betweenthe successive breaks, whicheffectutherewith the protective circuit is opened at ally preventduplication. The resultant series intervals, either completely orthrough one of of breaks'is thus produced not by a single cirseveralparallel paths, to cause a series or succuit-breaker whose constructionand operation 8 5 -4 cession of marked drop or cessation of the curmightbe determined by a series of readings rent at predetermined intervals IThe r'espontaken from the circuit, but is produced by the sive device atthe alarm-station isarranged so joint action of a plurality ofindependentlythat it will not respond to the normal changes, actingelements the separate effects of which while responding to any abnormalchanges to are superimposed to produce an effect which 9 45 sound analarm. is the result of a long series of permutations In the preferredform of my invention I in the intervals between the breaks. Such acircuit-breaking device depending for themtervals between the breaks orthe length of the breaks upon the joint action of a plurality ofseparate and independently-acting circuitbreakers whose effects aresuperimposed I term a multiple permutating circuitbreaker. The parts maybe arranged to produce a series of permutations in which one completecycle will extend over a series of years, and in this manner thesuccessful inter.- polation of a circuit-breaker in the protectivecircuit is effectively prevented.

I am aware that burglar-alarm systems have heretofore been devised inwhich the protective circuit is opened at intervals by means of a clockmechanism placed at the protective district, a similar and synchronouslyoperating clock mechanism being situated at the central station foropening a second circuit at the same time, the responsive device beingsubjected to the joint action of the currents in the two circuits. Suchsystems require twocomplicated clock mechanisms, one at the centralstation and the other at the protected district, the latter requiringfrequent visits to wind the same. Furthermore, it is diflicult to keepthe clock mechanisms in synchronism, and when out of synchronism thealarm is sounded. To avoid trouble from getting out of synchronismtroublesome electrical appliances must be added. In accordance with thepresent invention these difficulties are avoided by the employment ofelectrically operated circuitbreakers in the several circuits which areoperated at predetermined intervals through the agency of a singlepredete rmining clock mechanism situated at the alarm-station to thusopen and close the protective circuit in a predetermined manner, theresponsive device remaining irresponsive during the normal breaks in thecircuit. The circuit-breakers are arranged to be thrown into operationelectrically and then to successively open and close the circuit anumber of times, so that two time elements enter into the operation, onebeing the intervals between the successive actuations of theelectrically-operated circuit-breakers through the action of thepredeterming clock mechanism and the other the varying intervals betweensuccessive breaks in the circuit during a single operation of themultiple permutating circuit-breakers.

I have illustrated my invention in the ac companying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a diagram illustrating my in- Fig. 2 1s a detail view of thecir- Fig. 3 is a view of a modificaa/ of which makes contact with aseries of terminals a a to periodically close a local circuit a, oneside of whlch is connected with the hand a, while the otlierside isconnected with the series of terminals. In the local circuit areincluded the battery (0* and the coils 6 of an electromagnet,thearmature t of which rests normally against a contact 6 and is adaptedwhen attracted to break contact therewith and engage the back contacts 65*. The contact 6 is connected to ground, while the contact is connectedwith the ends of the .coils c c of the responsive device 0, the coils 0being connected to ground, while the coil 0 is connected with the backcontact 6* and also with a conductor cl, extending to the coil of theelectromagnet (Z, which operates the circuit-breaker. The opposite endof the coil of electromagnet (Z is connected with the con tact fingersor brushes 6 f 9, adapted to en-- gage, respectively, the series of pins6 f 9, carried, respectively, onthe gear-wheels e f g Fig. 2, or onseparate disks 6 f Fig. 3, mounted to rotate with the gearwheels. Thegear-wheels are connected with the conductor d, which extends to thepole of battery 6, the opposite pole of the battery being'connected withthe armature :5. Ina bridge between the conductor (Z and the end of thecoil of electromagnetcl is provided a resistance-coil h. The gear-wheelse f g intesmesh, and the Wheel e ismounted to rotate with aratchet-wheel 70, with the teeth of which engages a pawl it, pivoted tothe arm of a bell-crank k pivoted at and carrying upon the opposite arma weighted armature (Z situated opposite the pole of electromagnet (Zand normally resting in a lower position. l Vhen a momentary-increasedcurrent is sent through electromagnet cl, the armature is raised andthen descends, thus rocking the bell-crank and advancing theratchet-wheel it to rotate the' gear-wheels. A fan-blade Zis geared withthe gear-wheels to impart a uniform and definite speed thereto duringthe descent of the armature. A stop k limits the descent of thearmature, the upward movement being limited by the stop 70 Theresponsive device 0 is provided with a pivoted finger or arm 0",situated between two contacts 0* c and making contact with one or theother when the responsive device is unbalanced. To the arm is attached abar 0 to which are secured the cores 0 0 adapted to be attracted by thecoils or solenoids 0 0 The coils of the responsive device should beplaced so that no material induction can take place between them, sincesuch inductive effect might permit the cutting of the protective circuitand the utilization of the current induced therein by the operation ofthe circuit-breaker in the circuit at the alarm-station to operateinterpolated mechanism. In the alarm-circuit are included a battery 0and a bell or other signal device 0 A similar circuit-breaking device isprovided at the protected district and connected with the alarmstationby the conductor m, which is connected with the pole of battery 6, thecircuit being grounded at the protected district.

Normally current from battery 6 passes over circuit at through magnet01, resistance h to ground and back to the alarm-station, thence fromground through coil c of the responsive device, contact 6 armature Z) tothe battery. Current also passes from battery 6, over conductor (2",through resistance It, magnet (Z, conductor d, coil 0 of the responsivedevice, contact 6 armature a to the battery.

When the electromagnet Z) is energized by the closing of the localcircuit by the clock mechanism a, the armature b is attracted, thusopening the circuit through the coils c c and making contact with thecontacts 6 I), thus closing circuit from the battery through theelectromagnets cl all without passing through the coils c 0 Theresistances of the two circuits are thus decreased to cause an increasedcurrent to flow, the currents being of sufiicient strength to energizethe electromagnets d d to such a degree that they attract and raise thearmatures cl d. The clock mechanism closes the local circuit for ashorttime only, and upon again opening the circuit the armature descends,thereby rocking the bell-crank and advancing the pawl to rotate thegearwheels and successively open and close the circuit. When thearmature b is attracted, circuit may be traced from battery 6 over theprotective circuit to ground and from ground at the alarm-station tocontact 6 armature b to the battery. Circuit may also be traced from thebattery, over conductor 6Z2, through maintaining a current continouslyupon the protective circuit. When the circuit-breaker thus acts uponaparallel branch of themain circuit, it acts, in effect, to alter theresistance of the circuitto produce a varying current upon the circuitmeans being provided to prevent the predetermined variations fromaffecting the responsivedevice, while the responsive device readilyresponds to any abnormal variations.

numbers of teeth, such that the numbers have no common multiple lessthan that obtained by multiplying the several numbers together,

as thereby the maximum number of permutations is obtained. Thus onewheel may have forty-seven teeth, another forty-three, and anotherforty-one.

The electromagnets for controlling the circuit-breakers for best effectshould not be placed in the same circuit, but should be placed inseparate or individual circuits, since if placed in the same circuitapparatus might be interpolated in the protective circuit to sendcurrents over the protective circuit to operate both electromagnetsalike, and thus not sound the alarm. hen the electromagnet of thecircuit-breaker at the alarm-station is placed in a circuit independentof that containing the controlling-electromagnet at the protecteddistrict, any interpolated apparatus, While it may operate theelectromagnet at the protected district, will fail to operate theelectromagnet at the alarm-station, thus unbalancing the responsivedevice to sound the alarm.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a protective circuit and a responsive devicetherein, of an electrically-operated multiple permutating circuitbreakerin said circuit constructed to produce a series of successive breaks orpulsations of current strength each time the same is thrown intooperation and comprising a plurality or multipleof conjointly-actingcircuit-breaking arms or elements, means for normally counterbalancingthe effect thereof upon the responsive device, and electrical meansactuated independently of said circuit breaker and counterbalancingdevice for operating said circuit-breaker and said counter-balancingdevice in unison to normally maintain the responsive device quiescent,substantially as described.

2. The combination withaprotectivecircuit and .an individual circuit, ofa responsive device under the influence of the currents in bothcircuits, an electrically-operated multiple permutating circuit-breakerin each of said circuits each constructed to produce a series ofsuccessive breaks or pulsations of current strength each time the sameis thrown into operation and each comprising a plurality or multiple ofconjointly-acting circuit-breaking arms or elements, and electricalmeans actuated independently of said circuit-breakers for throwing bothof said circuit-breakers into operation in unison to normally maintainthe responsive device quiescent, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a protective circuit and an individual circuit,of a responsive de- The gear-wheels e f 9 preferably possess.

.breaker in each of said circuits comprising a plurality or multiple of,conjointly-acting cir- IIO cuit-breaking arms or elements, aself-operating propelling device associated with each of saidcircuit-breakers and arranged to operate the circuit-breakers to producea series of successive breaks or pulsations of current strength eachtime the same is thrown into operation, and electrical means controlledfrom the central station for storing in said propelling devices theenergy necessary to operate the same for the period of time required toproduce the said series of successive breaks or pulsations of currentstrength, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a protective circuit, of a responsive devicetherein, a permu- I tating device at the protected structure for varyingthe normal condition of the circuit, means for counterbalancing theeffect of said permutating device and maintaining the responsive devicequiescent during said normal variations, a pair of propelling devicesnormally out of operative position and arranged to operate thepermutating device and counterbalancing device when operative,electrical means controlled from the central station for moving saidpropelling devices into operative position, and means to release saiddevices and permit them to operate.

5. The combination with a protective circuit and a responsive devicetherein, of an electrically-operated circuit-varying device arrangedwhen operated to momentarily change the condition of the circuit andrestore the same to the normal again, means for normallycounterbalancing the effect upon said responsive device, and electricalmeans actuated in dependently of said circuit-varying device, and saidcounterbalancing device for operating said circuit-varying device andsaid counterbalancing device in unison to normally maintain theresponsive device quiescent, substantially as described.

6. In an electric protective system, the combination with tWo separatecircuits, of .a responsive device having two coils one in each of saidcircuits and relatively non-inductive, a circuit-varying device in oneof said circuits, means for counterbalancing the effect in the other,and means controlled by each circuit for respectively operating saidvarying device and said means. i

7 A main protective circuit extending from the central station to thedistrict to be protected, a circuit-varying device at the protecteddistrict, a separate circuit at the central station, means forcounterbalancing the effect of said circuit-varying device, a responsivedevice under the influence of the current in both of said circuits,means controlled by each circuit for respectively operating saidcircuit-varying device and said counterbalancing means, and means forpreventing the counterbalancing means from producing disturbances in themain circuit.

8. A protective circuit, aresistance therein, a contact device forshort-circuiting said resistance and placed in parallel therewith, apower-storing actuating means for actuating said short-circuiting meansand connected in series with said resistance, means for counterbalancingthe effect of said short-circuiting device, a responsive deviceirresponsive to the normal variations, whereby the resistance may beshort-circuited Without afiecting the circuit through the power-storingmeans, and means cooperating with'the counterbalancing means forrendering the same effective.

9. A protective circuit, acircuit-varyingdevice at the protecteddistrict, means for counterbalancing the effect of said circuit-varyingdevice at the central station, a responsive device rendered therebyirresponsive to normal variations, devices for actuating saidcircuitvarying device and said counterbalancing means, means for settingthe same in operation simultaneously, means for predetermining thelength of time of the operation thereof, and means for imparting energyto operate said devices after allowing suflicient time for both to cometo rest, substantially as described.

10. A protective circuit, a circuit-varying device at the protecteddistrict, a means for counterbalancing the effect of saidcircuit-varying device at the central station, a responsive devicerendered thereby irresponsive to normal variations, an operating devicefor actuating said circuit-varying device and said counterbalancingmeans, means for periodically setting the same in operationsimultaneously, means for predetermining the length of time of theoperation thereof, and means for periodically furnishing energy .to saidoperating devices at greater intervals of time than the period ofoperation of said operating devices, substantially as described.

11. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsivedevice and means for counterbalancing the effect of saidpermutatingdevice, said permutating device comprising a pluralityof contactdevicesforopening and closing the circuit a number of times in rapid successioneach time the permutating device is operated, said contact devices beingconnected in parallel with each other, substantially as described.

12. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsivedevice, means for counterbalancing the effect of said permutatingdevice, said permutating device comprising a plurality of contactdevices for opening and closing the circuit and connected in parallelwith each other, a differential gearing between said several contactdevices, and means for rotating said gearing at intervals, substantiallyas described.

13. A protective circuit, a permutating device therein, a responsivedevice, means for counterbalancing the efiect of said permutatingdevice, said permutating device comprisscribed my name in the presenceof tWo Witing a plurality of contact devices for opening nesses. andclosing the circuit and connected in parallel with each other, and aresistance con- 5 nected in parallel With said several contact de-Witnesses:

vices, substantially as described. W. CLYDE JONES, In witness whereof Ihave hereunto sub- M. R. ROOHFORD.

CLYDE COLEMAN.

